No sequel can compare to the original 1999 masterpiece that is The Matrix. I don't want to spoil the ending of this well written piece of popular culture, so I am not going to go into any concrete details.
Matrix Reloaded was a disappointment to some, and some people will not be happy with Revolutions for the simple reason that they did not like Reloaded. I was one of the few that enjoyed Reloaded, even though it was a bit thick on the philosophical parts. (If you really want to, check out Taking the Red Pill: Science, Philosophy and Religion in The Matrix, I found it a good read).
If for nothing else people swarmed to see Revolutions for closure. We find out what happens to Neo and Trinity, and the rest of the gang. I guess that is why it made 209 Mil. in its international box office opening. That or people were actually looking forward to seeing it for the great movie it was.
Revolutions tied up and answered a lot of loose ends left a fray from as far back as the original movie. It is nice to see the story come full circle so well on so many things. I think when you watch these 3 flicks back to back to back you will see what I mean. I watched The Matrix and Matrix Reloaded on DVD before I went to the theater to see Revolutions, didn't you? :-P
I thought that Revolutions was cut a lot better then Reloaded. Reloaded had some scenes that went on forever, the pacing of Revolutions was better. The battle scenes and the machine city were very impressive. Very nice amination.
Did you notice the heavy overtone of classical music in Revolutions? It was hardly there in The Matrix, and then was stronger in Reloaded, but Revolutions had massive amounts of very electric classical tracks (the Neo - Smith fight, for example). I don't think this is a bad thing, I think it is quite the opposite. While I liked hearing Rage, Prodigy, Rammstein, Rob Zombie etc, in the first flick, the original score is more powerful, especially considering the underlying concepts and philosophy of The Matrix trilogy. I think the popular soundtrack was used to get wider exposure, but look at what they did with the 3rd soundtrack.
Article comments
1 - Dew
You are not alone, Ken. I, too, am a geek infatuated with the world of the MATRIX.
2 - Michelle
Most of the things you pointed out I noticed, too - for instance, that Revolutions IS better than Reloaded. Anyway, after seeing all three movies and being very disappointed with the ending (I won't spoil it...) I thought "Matrix" would have worked as a single movie just fine. Reloaded and Revolutions did nothing for the philosophy behind Matrix and the surely didn't answer any questions for me. "Matrix" said it all, the rest - I'm afraid - was just pretty big and expensive sequels.
3 - Dew
I have to disagree. For the most part the main theme I received from the sequels was purpose. The major theme in the first Matrix was reality (or lack there of).
Neo did not believe in fate in The Matrix (predetermined purpose) but by the end of Revolutions he accepted what he had to do in order to defend Zion ( I won't spoil it either). He accepted that he did have as much control as he had previously thought but he always had choioce. Smith questioned how could you have choice if there exists fate. I could go on and on but I believe the Sequels were necessary and very well done.
4 - Ken Edwards
I disagree as well. there was purpose to the sequels. the ending to the first movie was a blatant cliffhanger, the ending to the second was even more of a blatant cliffhanger. and the third movie cleans things up in a nice package. i do not think The Matrix as a whole would be as successful if it were not for the two sequels.
5 - Michelle
I don't really see the first movie as ending with a cliffhanger. Or: I don't consider this "cliffhanger" a cliffhanger. The Matrix ending was clear about everything. It said the Neo was the one, it implied that he would therefore save the world, it showed that he got the girl. I like that ending better than the one of Revolutions.
6 - Sean
The Matrix was a masterpiece. Reloaded was a super film and Revolutions blew my mind! This trilogy is by far the best ever created. I challege anyone to come up with a more orginal, thought provoking film. The first film left me with hundreds of philosophical questions that just had to be answerd. Reloaded and Revolutions did that.
Revolutions in my mind was just the ending the trilogy was looking for. The answerd all of the questions, had no lose ends and if they wanted to the brothers could easily make another film.
This film challenges you not to think about the philosophical and ethical issues given in the first two films and you leave the cinema feeling enlightend, integued and excited.
An excellent music score by Don Davis, super special effects and wonderful acting make this the best made film of all time.
7 - Ken Edwards
Sean - I would have to agree with you 100%
8 - truth
Was i the only one that realised that the references to Christianity were more based on references than actually leading anyone any closer to the spiritual truths mentioned in the Matrix movies..?
For example,
"Maya" - Illusion.
"Karma" - Cause/Effect.
"Dharma" - Duty.
"Sati" - Sacrifice.
"Matrix reload" - Re-incarnation.
"Cosmology" - Quantam mechanics & Human mind.
"Yoga" - Meditation.
are fundamental tenets of Hinduism, a 5000 year old Indian philosophy (from which Buddhism evolved from.)
truth